System of cleaning and refilling locomotive-boilers.



. A F. A. GALE.

SYSTEM 0F CLEANING. AND RBFILLING LOGOMOTIVE BOILERS.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 2z, 1912.

1,087,362, 4 Patented Feb. 17,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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F. A. GALE. SYSTEM 0F CLEANING AND REPILLING LOGOMOTIVB BoILBRS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1912. 1,087,362. Patented Feb. 17, 1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FREDERICK A. Gann, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SYSTEM OF CLEANING AND REFILLING LOCOMOTIVE-BOILERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

Application led July 22, 1912. Serial No. 710,764.

To all Iwhom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. GALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Cleaning and Relilling Locomotive-Boilers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The primary objectof my invention is to provide a blowoff wash-out and reiilling system for locomotive boilers and the like which shall be ofsimple construction to distribute water of any desired temperature throughout a round-house by use of a twopipe systenn'and economical in the use of heat units in raising the water to the desired temperature; and also to provide efficient means for the blow-off water to be separated `from the sediment before being used again for washing out and refilling.

Other objects will be apparent from the disclosure.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and then pointed out in the appended claims.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a general view of the complete system; Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the settling, heating and filtering tank; Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section of the tank through the settling compartment on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a View in crosssection through the filtering compartment on the line 1 -i of Fig. 2; Fig. is an enlarged detail of the hose connections, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the flexible joint.

The round-house is equipped with a series of pits over which the locomotives stand, and with a blowo main and hot and cold water mains having a head accessible from each pit.

in the practice of my invention when a locomotive enters the round-house under a head of steam or pressure in the boiler after the fire has been drawn or banked to a low temperature so as to provide against injury to the plates of the lire box, the flexible hose 10 at its pitis connected to the blowoff cock of the locomotive as shown in Fig. 1, and to the associated drop-pipe 11 from the blowoft main 12, and when the blow-oli cock is opened the pressure in the locomotive boiler forces the water through the hose i ment and scale.

10, pipe 1l, and the blow-olf main 12, down into the settling compartment B of the tank A at 13. As the water enters the tank A with considerable velocity the particles of scale and sediment are precipitated down- Vward between the staggered baffle plates 14 in compartment B. The blown-ofin water slowly rises between the end plate a and division plate a2 forming the compartment B, while the scale and sediment are retarded in the compartment by the battle-plates and then drop to the bottom of the compartment and are discharged by opening the drain cock 15. As the blown-oli water sheds over division plate a2 it is prevented from immediately mingling with the clearer water at the surface in compartment D by the vertical baliie plate a3, and is compelled to descend in compartment C formed between the division plate a2 andbaiiie plate a3 and. enters compartment D by passing below the plate a3 at 16 and under the horizontally disposed arched plate at around whose sides it passes into compartment D. As the blown-off water enters tank A at 13 its high velocity is immediately reduced by the larger cross-sectional area of its fiow and by its rise again in chamber B, slow descent in chamber C and flow under the spreading plate a* up into compartment D and through the perforations 17 of the vertical division pla-te a5 into compartment FJ, where it is heated to a desired temperature and is ready to be drawn oli for the purpose of washing out or refilling. The tank `accomplishes purification of' the blown-0E v water without agitating the clear water and aords ample time for settling of the sedi- After the blowing ofi of a locomotive is completed, the washing out is accomplished by connecting a hose 18 to the y connection 19 of the water-supply yoke I, in which the valve 2O is opened'ready for the adjustment of the temperature of the water for washing out. If the locomotive has been standing idle and the boiler is cold,

`water of low temperature may be used by `f opening valve 21 which allows water to flow from the cold water main through the yoke I; the opening of the valve 20 and hose 18 'reduces the pressure of the water in the drop-pipe 22 and the cold water main 23, and as soon as the pressure is thus reduced the pump-governor 24: opens the throttle `g valve 25 and starts the pumpACr which takes v water from the tank through the cold water supply pipe 26, when valve 27 is open, and delivers it to the main 23. lt is usually desired to Wash out a locomotive while the boilerI is hot, and it is preferable to use warm water to keep the boiler parts from contracting due to the heat contained in same after the blown-off water being drawn olf. To obtain warm water the nozzle ot hose 18 is dropped into lthe engine pit, valve 2O being open, and the valves 21 and 23 are adjusted until the desired tempering of the water has been obtained which will be indicated by the reading of thermometer K, the tip of the thermometer projecting down into the yoke-connection l, where the cold and hot water mingle, and thereby indicating the temperature of the water flowing out of' hose 18. l/Vhen the valve 28 is opened the pressure in drop-pipe 29 and main 30 is reduced and the throttle 31 of pump H is opened by the governor 32 to start the pump H, which maintains the proper supply of hot water and pressure in pipes 29 and 30, which with the cold water flowing through pipe 22 maintains the desired temperature of the water flowing through hose 18. The nozzle of hose 18 is entered in the different washout-openings of the boiler until the process is completed. After the washing out has been accomplished and it is desired to relill the boiler to put the locomotive back into service as soon as possible, valves 20 and 21 are closed, and the hose 18 is connected to the proper connection on the locomotive for relling. Het water is obtained from the tank through pump H by again opening the valve 20, the valve 28 being then opened to its full capacity to complete the rehlling process as soon as possible. Refilling may also be accomplished by connectin@ a hose to 33. After closing the valves 2O and 28 and disconnecting hose 18, the locomotive is ready to be refired and put into service.

It is sometimes desired to wash out a locomotive immediately after entering the round-house but not to put it again into service until after repairs. Heretofore it has been necessary to let the boiler gradually cool down before withdrawing the blow-off water; or to blow off the water and wash out with water of a fixed temperature, ranging between 160 and 200 degrees leaving the boiler after the washing out process has been completed subject to dangerous strains due to sudden contraction. To prevent these dangerous strains within a boiler it is necessary to gradually cool down the washout water during the washing out process. lThis l accomplish by gradually closing valve 28 while washing' out to allow the cold water flowing through valve 21 to gradually decrease the temperature of the boiler until it has been drawn down below the danger point.

ln practice for economical construction the drop pipes 11, 22, and 29, are placed at every other stall of the round-house. This arrangement spans two pits, and if two locomotives be entered on each side of a group of drops, and it is sometimes desired to refill one after being washed out before the washing out of the other is completed, by connecting a hose to the branch and to the locomotive to be refilled hot water can be drawn from pipe 29, the branch having a valve 33. Also if it is desired to utilize an extra supply of cold water it can be done by the branch 3-1 having the valve 34. By this arrangement a head is provided for cold, warm and hot water; the cold water through pipe 34 or yoke l when valve 28 is closed, the warm through yoke l when valves 21 and 28 are relatively adjusted, and the hot through pipe 33 or yoke l when valve 21 is closed. Also cold water may be drawn ofl pipe 34 or hot water off pipe 33 without disturbing the adjustment of valves 21 and 28. To provide against having to readjust either valve 21 and 28 after valve 33 or 34; has been opened for some purpose, the drop pipes 22 and 29 have a capacity sufficient to maintain the supply of water through valves 21 and 34V, and 28 and 33, respectively, without loss ot pressure sufiicient to effect the tempering arrangement provided by the yoke l.

rfln'oughout a round-house it is desired to have cold, warm and hot water for various purposes, such as washing windows, floors, and fire protection as well as washing-out and refilling boilers. Heretofore it has been the practice to install three water mains to distribute cold, warm and hot water, vvhereas l accomplish the same by the use of two pipes there-by providing for economical installation of washout and refilling systems.

To maintain an economical use of heat units to provide water at a desired temperature, l use an intake pipe a8, for the hot water pump H provided with a float a9. The purpose oi*l this float is to retain the inlot opening at the upper end al@ of the pipe at a suitable distance below the surface level of the water in compartment E. Slightly below the level of 'the intake opening al, l also provide a floating heating device all, retained by the float am; when valve 35 is closed this heating device all receives a supply of exhaust steam from the pumps G and H through the pump exhaust pipe 3G, down pipe 3T, flexible joint 38, up pipe 39, through the flexible joint 110, and into the nozzle au, which is supported in the center ci the short tube @13. As steam ejects out of all, the water of compartment E is drawn in at one end of the tube alg and forced out at the other end, thereby circulating the water of compartment l. The joint 38 is provided with a drain opening 38 for sediment.

Heretofore in washout and refilling systems it has been the practice to heat the entire b ody of water contained in the storage tanks, whereas by my invention it is only necessary to heat enough water to begin the process of washing out and relling, as the heating device a in compartment E is suspended at a proper distance below the surface of the water to maintain the desired temperature about the intake al andthe float am descends while water is being drawn off through the intake by pump H. it is well known kthat heat will not readily descend into water below the source of heat, therefore by arranging the source of heat for the body of water and the intake for drawing off the water at a suitable distance below the surface, the heat readily aEects the water at the intake, and then gradually aects the water in the lower portions of the tank as the water is drawn off from the body. rIherefore, by the arrangement and organization of parts disclosed, or any equivalent device, it is evident that an economical use of heat-is obtained by first heating a iinimum body of water sufiicient to begin the process of washing out or refilling, and subsequently heating the balance in strata as required for use. l also avoid the loss of heat, for if a large body'of water is heated to a high temperature and only a portion of it used the heat required for the balance of it left unused will be lost. Before all the water can be drawn from compartment E, the fioat 41 opens valve 42 in supply pipe 43 connected to the cold water supply to replenish the water in the compartment.

The pipe as delivers the water into compartment F formed by the vertical division plate a, and in the bottom of compartment F l provide suitable means for filtering as shown at (LH. The water flowing through intake pipe as into compartment F is withdrawn through the filtering material am by a. pipe 44 having a branch 45 controlled by valve 46 and leading to pump lH and the hot water main 30. The pipe 44 also communicates with a pipe 47 leading to the cold water main 23 and having a valve 48 which is normally closed, the main 23 having a valve 23l beyond its union with branch 47. If the filter a becomes clogged, by closing valves 23 and 46 and opening valve 43 the flow of water is reversed through pipes 47 and 44 and washes out any sediment and which it discharges loosely upon the perforated plate 49 above the filter, where it may ybe easily cleaned out through the opening 50; Va similar opening 51 is provided fo-r changing the filtering material of 0,14. In the bottom compartment F a strainer 52 is provided to prevent the material of am from dropping into pipe 44.

A means for using one pump G or H for pumping cold, warm or hot water through either main 23 or 30 is provided in case of failure of either pump. The cold water pipe 26 has a branch 26 leading to pump H and having a valve53, and the hot water pipe 44 leads to pump G where it is provided with a valve 54, while a cross-pipe 55 connects the mains 23 and 30, being provided with. a cut-ofi' valve 55, the mains having valves 23ZL Yand 30" respectivelybeyond the cross-pipe and the main 30 having a second valve 3O-L between pump' H and pipe 55. By closing valves 23a and3()a and opening valves 30 and 55 the pump G will force water through main 30; by closing valves 30', 23 and opening valves 30a and 55 the pump H will force water through main 23. The temperature of the water can be regulated by adjustingr valves 27 and 54 for pump G and valves 46 and 53 for pump H, reading the temperature on thermostats 231, and 30b respectively in pipe 56 leading from the live steam supply pipe 57 a means for reducing the pressure in pipes 36 and 37 is.,

provided by a reducing pressure valve 53, which reduces the pressure in pipes 36 and 37 equal to the exhaust pressure from the pumps. If the pumps stop vor do not furnish eno-ugh steam to maintain the water in compartment E at the desired temperature, steam will flow from 57 through 5S until the thermostat valve 59 closes after the temperature in E has reached the desired point. lhen the temperature in E decreases valve 59 will open allowing more steam to flow.

An overflow 60 `is provided for the tank to prevent any pressure accumulating to a dangerous point in the tank should the iioat 4l fail to close valve 42. There is also a vent provided as shown at 6l to prevent unnecessary pressure accumulating dueA to steam in tank A. For the purpose of preventing agitation of the water in compartment E by the inflow of water from valve 42 when open, a pipe 62 is arranged in the bottom of the compartment with perforations so that the water will drip through in small streams over a large area. To blow off the sediment'from any compartment of the tank, a pipe 63 is provided having leads 64 to the different compartments provided with valves 65.

In case no water is being drawn through the pipes 22 and 29, it is desirable to maintain the heat in the hot water main 30 and for this purpose a by-pass 66 is provided between thepipes 30 and l2 to enable the hot water to be `circulated in small quantity by the pump to keep the main hot. vThe by-pass has a valve 67 by which it is closed at other times.

rIhe pipes 22 and 29 are provided with check-valves 68 to prevent water from circulating from one pipe to the other.

Having described my invention, I claim l. In a boiler washing and filling system,

the combination of a filling-water tank, a source of water supply therefor', a heater in the tank, and a float to suspend the heater below the surface of the water.

2. in a boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a filling-water tank, a source of water supply therefor, a steam heater in the tank, and a float supporting the heater below the surface of the water.

3. ln a boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a filling-water tank., a source of water supply therefor, a heater in the tank comprising a tube and steam pipe of less diameterl therein, and a float supporting the heater below the surface of the water.

t. in a boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a filling-water tank, a source of water supply therefor, a steam supply main in the tank, a steam pipe connected to the main by a flexible joint, a tube of larger diameter than the pipe surrounding its end, and a float supporting the tube below the surface of the water.

5. ln a boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a filling-water tank, a source of water supply therefor, a heater' in the tank suspended below the surface of the water by a float, and an intake suspended below the surface of the water by a float.

6. ln a boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a filling-water tank, a source of water supply therefor, a heater flexibly suspended in the tank below the surface of the water by a float, and an intake flexibly suspended below the surface of the water b a float.

T. ln a boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a filling-water tank, a source of water supply therefor, a heater suspended in the tank below t-he surface of the water by a float, an intake suspended below the Surface of the water by afloat, and a filter into which the intake discharges the heated water from the tank.

8. In a boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a tank having blowofl;1 and filling water compartments, baffle plates in the blowolf-water compartment, a vertical plate adjacent the latter compartment and forming a downward passage having an opening at its lower end, and a horizontal deflecting plate adjacent the opening and ander which the water passes.

9. in a boiler washing and filling system, the combination of a tank having blowoff and filling water compartments, opposite baille plates in the blowoff-water compartments, a. vertical plate adjacent the latter compartment and forming a downward passage having an opening at its lower end, and a horizontal deflecting plate adjacent the opening and under which the water passes.

l0. In a boiler washing and :filling system, the combination of a tank having` blowoff and filling` water compartments, a vertical plate forming a downward water passage adjacent the latter compartment and having an opening at its lower end, a vertical perforated plate forming a chamber intermediate the said passage and the filling-water compartment, baffle plates in the blown-water compartment, and a horizontal deflecting plate in the intermediate chamber and below which the water flows from the opening of the water passage adjacent the blown-water compartment.

in testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK A. GALE. llfitnesses F. G. GRIFFIN, F. J. Pnovosr.

Espas at this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente.

Washington, D. C." 

